The decision to terminate City Manager Peter Iglesias was reached by the Coral Gables City Commission in a vote on Tuesday. Commissioner Kirk Menendez played a pivotal role in breaking the tie, putting an end to the speculation that had surrounded City Hall in recent days. Alongside the decision to dismiss Iglesias, Menendez introduced a new proposition suggesting that Ralph Cutié, the current director and CEO of the Miami-Dade Aviation Department, should replace him. Menendez conveyed Cutié’s expressed readiness to engage in discussions about assuming the role.
In the wake of the decision, Assistant City Manager Alberto Parjus assumed the position of acting city manager. Mayor Vince Lago and Vice Mayor Rhonda Anderson opposed the termination of Iglesias, who, in a poignant moment before the official vote, embraced City Hall employees. Iglesias left the chambers to a standing ovation, with some employees visibly emotional.
Commissioners Ariel Fernandez and Melissa Castro aligned with Menendez in voting for Iglesias’s dismissal. The vote is indicative of evolving power dynamics within the City Commission following the April election, where Castro and Fernandez triumphed over candidates endorsed by the mayor and other established political figures.
